Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Testimony Begins In Tupac Shakur Murder Trial; Trump Threatens Oman As U.S.-Iran 60-Day Agreement Expires; "Nashville" And "Heroes" Actress Hayden Panettiere Dead At 36; CBP Pausing Border Security Work In Big Bend National Park. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired August 17, 2026 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:33]

ERICA HILL, CNN HOST: Framework Expires: The 60-day deadline for the U.S. and Iran to reach a peace deal has now passed, just as President Trump says he's in no hurry to reach an agreement.

Plus, a long-awaited trial now finally underway, opening statements in the Tupac Shakur murder trial nearly 30 years after the iconic rapper was killed.

And the tragic death of a Hollywood star, what we know this hour about the sudden passing of actress Hayden Panettiere just days before her 37th birthday.

We're following these major developing stories and many more all coming in right here to CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: We start this hour with the second witness in the Tupac Shakur murder case wrapping up her testimony. The first day of witness testimony got underway today, nearly 30 years after the rap icon was killed in a Las Vegas drive-by shooting. Duane "Keffe D" Davis is the only suspect to be charged in the case. Many of the other alleged suspects are dead. Prosecutors say that Davis, who also wrote a book about the shooting, allegedly orchestrated Shakur's murder as an act of revenge for a mob beating of his nephew inside the MGM Grand Casino. Shakur was seen on surveillance video participating in that attack.

(Begin VT)

BINU PALAL, CLARK COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: Duane Davis did not pull the trigger, but what he did do was plan the retaliation for the beating of his nephew. You will learn that Duane Davis got the gun. You will learn that he got into a white Cadillac. You will learn when the opportunity presented itself for retribution, Duane Davis made sure that the shooters were armed and ready to execute their revenge.

MICHAEL SANFT, DEFENSE ATTORNEY FOR DUANE DAVIS: What the state has just told you, what they believe to be the evidence in this case. But really, at the end of the day, you have to ask yourself, if what they're saying is really truth or fiction, fact or fiction. What they are telling you, they're representing to be a fact when it really is fiction, and it's up to you to determine what the facts are in this case.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Just moments ago, the court recessed for lunch. Let's get some perspective with criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Mark Eiglarsh.

Mark, thanks so much for being with us.

As part of a proffer agreement, Davis confessed to his role in Shakur's killing years ago. Doesn't that complicate his current claims that he wasn't even in Las Vegas at the time and that his book is a work of fiction?

MARK EIGLARSH, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY & FORMER PROSECUTOR: It does. You know, if he had just kept his mouth shut like a fish, he would have gotten caught. And that normally wouldn't have come into evidence, but for the judge's ruling that now you wrote a book about it and you're going around telling everybody. And so legally, he allowed that statement, which seems to be fairly credible, to come in before the jurors.

SANCHEZ: He says, Davis, that most of the details in the book came from ghostwriters. And notably, Davis's co-author Yusuf Jah is among the witnesses that could potentially be called to testify. How important do you see that testimony in this case?

EIGLARSH: I would say colossal. That's his defense. I'm not guilty. I'm gaslighting. I'm making stuff up. It's street cred, man. You can't take what I say is serious. And the difference between the prosecution's theory and his is he was sitting in the front seat. He could admit that. He just didn't pass the gun like he claimed he did. And he did so because he's got benefits from it. He sells more books. He looks more tough. He's connected to the murder of someone who he doesn't particularly care for.

So, how will the jury be able to tell that what he's saying is true? Well, they'll look to the forensic evidence. Oh, yes, there is none.

SANCHEZ: Yes. So, doesn't that complicate this for the prosecution? It's -- it's interesting that this would get to trial given that there's no video or -- or DNA. There's really nothing that puts him at the scene beyond his own words in the past.

EIGLARSH: Right.

SANCHEZ: Right?

EIGLARSH: Right. The other way to say it is his words put him there.

SANCHEZ: Yes.

EIGLARSH: How would someone repeat the same words over and over again the way that he did in the manner in which he did unless it was real.

[15:05:03]

But absent a busload of nuns who drove by and saw him handing the gun to the back seat, I think that they have a problem.

SANCHEZ: A lot of nun conferences in Vegas back in the '90s, right? Mark in his book ...

EIGLARSH: Yes. Oh, sure.

SANCHEZ: ... yes. In his book, Davis writes that Sean "Diddy" Combs allegedly asked him for help with a couple of problems that he needed handled. Apparently a reference to Tupac Shakur and "Suge" Knight showed night, the head of Death Row Records at the time. In 2016, Combs called allegations of any involvement by him in this nonsense. He is listed as a potential witness. Do you think we might see "Diddy" testify in this case?

EIGLARSH: I think the chances of that are equal to me finally being called up to play in the NBA and I'm 58 years old and I cannot shoot for (ph) my life. You're not going to see him testify. But it -- but, again, it begs the question, how much could you rely upon his words? And by the way, there's a difference between believability and accuracy. The guy could look believable and sound believable, but that doesn't mean he's accurate. And if I'm his lawyer, I say, yes, he talks a big game, but that doesn't mean he really did it.

SANCHEZ: Beyond that, the jury in this case is partially sequestered. First, help us understand what that means and also what impact that might have on their impressions of this case.

EIGLARSH: Well, we know that jurors, even though they're sworn not to look at media reports, they do. They see it. It happens. We've learned that from prior high profile cases. So, to the extent that they could be at least partially sequestered, it hopefully shields them from things that they should not be considering. They should only be focused on the evidence and the law given.

SANCHEZ: Mark Eiglarsh, we'll leave the conversation there. Appreciate the perspective. Look forward to seeing you on the court in the NBA next season.

EIGLARSH: I'll be there, Boris. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Thanks so much. Erica.

HILL: A 60-day window for talks between the U. S. And Iran expires without a peace deal in place. And now, President Trump is unleashing a new war of words. The President issuing a warning to Oman to not interfere with U. S. efforts in the Strait of Hormuz, telling Fox News, quote, "If Oman gets in the way, we'll bomb the shit out of them."

Well, just last hour, he was asked about those comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you say you're out of patience with Oman as strategic partners?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No, I don't think they behave very well, but we handle them very easily, just like we do others.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Seeing as Kristen Holmes is live at the White House. Kristen, not the first time he is in some ways made similar references for Oman. Of course, there was another one back in May. Where do things stand right now?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Erica, it seems as though we're in Groundhog Day every single day. Another deadline came and went with no deal in place. And President Trump, he's saying the exact same thing that he's been saying for the last several months. This is what he said just moments ago about where things currently stand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Well, they want to make a deal, but they're not going to make the kind of a deal that I feel is necessary. Look, we're in there for one reason. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. You understand that? Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they won't have a nuclear weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So, obviously there he's focusing on the nuclear weapon, but it's clear based on his comments that he said about Oman that he is growing incredibly frustrated that there's been no deal and with reason, because I want to show you our most recent polling when it comes to the war in Iran and how Americans feel about it. Here's the question we asked. Is Iran war worth the U. S. lives lost and the financial costs? I mean, take a look at those numbers, 74 percent of people in America are saying no, 25 percent are saying yes.

And you can guarantee that if this war does not end, that's going to be President Trump's legacy moving forward. But two, beating into those midterms, this is going to be hanging over every voter's head as they go to the poll, because guess what? Afterwards, they're going to also have to buy gas or buy groceries, and most Americans right now feel as though they cannot afford to live, and many of them blame that war in Iran.

So, even with President Trump saying they want to make a deal, I don't want to make a deal, that there's no timeline. I'm not in a rush. Americans are feeling the pinch every single day.

HILL: They certainly are. Kristen, appreciate it. Thank you.

Still ahead here, officials in South Carolina say they plan to release more information today surrounding the death of actress Hayden Panettiere. We're going to bring you the latest on that investigation as tributes continue to pour in for the 36 year old.

Plus, as U. S. Demand for hormone therapy for perimenopause and menopause surges, estrogen patches are becoming increasingly difficult to find. What you need to know amid that growing nationwide shortage.

And millions of people across the southeastern United States now bracing for another week long heat wave that feels like temperatures in a number of these places could approach 110 degrees. That much more ahead on CNN NEWS CENTRAL.

[15:10:05]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:14:29]

HILL: Officials in South Carolina say the autopsy for actress Hayden Panettiere is now complete. The 36-year-old was found unresponsive at a South Carolina apartment on Sunday. A 911 call was made for a possible cardiac arrest.

Panettiere rose to fame in the early 2000s with iconic roles in the TV series "Heroes" and "Nashville." But she's been acting since she was a little girl, appearing in blockbuster films like "Remember the Titans," and "A Bug's Life," as a child. CNN Senior Entertainment Reporter Lisa France joins us now.

So, Lisa, what have we learned now from these initial autopsy results?

[15:15:01]

LISA FRANCE, CNN SENIOR ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Well, we know from authorities, Erica, that there was no evidence of any type of foul play, but it could be weeks before we know what actually was the cause of death because again, you know, we know that they're going to have to do all types of testing, including, you know, testing for any types of substances that may have been present. And so, we're not going to know right away what actually caused her to die.

But we do know that people are curious about it because she was such an immense talent. She was so beloved and her family is responding to that love with a statement that they put out in which they said, "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden. She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her -- and to the millions who watched her on screen."

And that came from her father, Skip. And that was a statement that was shared by her representative. And people are just in complete and utter shock, Erica, that at this young age of 36, this immensely talented woman who did have troubles and was very open about the troubles she suffered, including substance abuse and postpartum depression and things like that, that she is no longer with us, Erica. HILL: And she was, I mean, to your point, Lisa, she -- she had opened

up in her memoir. She was very, very public, very candid about the struggles, addiction, postpartum mental health issues. And that was helpful to a number of people as well in her being that candid.

FRANCE: It absolutely was, Erica. And also, I think that contributes to the shock that people are feeling right now, because we were seeing her promote her memoir. She gave an incredible appearance -- she had an incredible appearance on the Jay Shetty Podcast in which she talked about where she was at in her life, currently. Let's take a listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAYDEN PANETTIERE, ACTRESS: I finally feel like I have shaken off all of this, this darkness and this negativity. And that means I've closed one door and another door is opened. And -- and -- and I can feel it open and -- and I can feel all the possibility, all the all the possibilities, all the exciting possibilities. I've -- I feel like I have a lot more life to live.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANCE: Just tragic. I mean, Erica, you know, her saying that she felt like she had more life to live. Hearing those words are just absolutely haunting today, Erica, as people mourn the loss of this tremendous actress.

HILL: Yes, they really are. And so young. Lisa, appreciate it. Thank you.

FRANCE: Thank you.

HILL: Still ahead this hour, after facing major backlash, the Trump administration is now halting border security work in Big Bend National Park. So, we're going to bring you the latest on the controversy there near the U.S. southern border. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:22:33]

SANCHEZ: U. S. Customs and Border Protection is suspending its controversial plan to build border security infrastructure inside a beloved National Park in West Texas. In a social media post, Commissioner Rodney Scott says, quote, "CBP is pausing all construction activity in Big Bend National Park while I visit and conduct a personal on the ground evaluation. Over the next couple of days, I will join a small team to evaluate the terrain and listen to local leadership, community members and stakeholders to ensure that we secure our borders while simultaneously protecting the park for generations to come."

We're joined now by CNN's Ed Lavandera over the phone. Ed has been doing extensive reporting on this battle. Ed, even Republican Senator John Cornyn has been part of the outcry

against this project for border security. Would you say this is a win for protesters, or is it simply too early to say?

ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's probably both of those, Boris. I think I've been talking to a number of opponents who have been trying to sound the alarm of -- of the Department of Homeland Security's border barrier planning. It's a multi-phase plan that could cost in the whole region more than $7 billion in the Big Bend National Park area. That particular project that has been underway for almost two weeks now is close to $2 billion of -- of all of that.

So, the people that I've been speaking with in the Big Bend region tell me that they welcome Rodney Scott's visit. They have been saying for months and months that they believe that if politicians from Washington were to come down to the Big Bend region, see this dramatic landscape, the wilderness, they would understand for themselves just how insane the idea is. And that is the word of the former superintendent of the Big Bend National Park, who described -- that's how they described the whole plan that was being put in place for all this.

But Boris, we should point out, there's a great deal of distrust. They are obviously -- this is a pause. They do not believe that this is definitely an end to any kind of construction work inside the National Park. In fact, the 27 year old activist, Natalie Newman, who we spent some time with last week, who has been documenting the bulldozers inside National Park, she tells us that this is the first day that she has seen everything quiet, but that the machinery is still in the park. She thinks that this could start up again tomorrow if they go away from -- from this pause. This is what she told us last week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: You were here on the very first day this started happening.

NATALIE NEWMAN, PHOTOGRAPH`ER, PROTESTING BIG BEND CBP PROJECT: Mm- hmm.

LAVANDERA: What's going through your mind?

[15:25:02]

NEWMAN: It's hard to witness. It seems needless and just sad to see needless destruction. I was really hoping that it wouldn't get this far. But I -- I -- yes.

It feels like we've -- those of us here in far west Texas have been screaming into the void about this and what's been planned for months. And now finally they started and the word is getting out well beyond just west Texas.

LAVANDERA: Right.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LAVANDERA: And Boris, you know, another business owner that we talked

to in the region told me this afternoon that it is disturbing that this is the first time that the commissioner of CBP or anyone from DHS has come to speak with the people there in that region directly. In -- in this person's words, it was a, quote, "reeks of irresponsibility, they should have done this before they unleashed bulldozers in Big Bend National Park."

And we should also point out that it's interesting the CBP commissioner statement today because a few days ago after our reporting last week, DHS put out a tweet saying that the mainstream media is fear mongering about our work in Big Bend. They said that what we were seeing is survey and design work, not construction of a wall or stadium lighting through Big Bend National Park.

But we should also point out that the CBP commissioner in his very statement today described the work there as construction. And I point this out because this is what has led to so much of the distress that local officials and local residents have with this entire process, Boris.

SANCHEZ: Yes, important to point out. Ed, please keep us posted. Thanks so much for that report.

Coming up, President Trump says the U.S. is scaling back military exercises with key ally South Korea just hours before drills were due to start. What the move could mean for security in the region when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)